Eating Disorders | Root Psychology

An eating disorder is not just about food. Constantly feeling like you need the approval of others or attempting to be perfect in all that you do can be exhausting. Thinking that you must live up to other people’s expectations can create intense emotions that overwhelm to the point that coping in a healthy way seems unattainable. Instead, the coping method can turn negative and self-destructive — sometimes in the form of an eating disorder. Your relationship to food, initially used to make you feel better, can become deeply problematic.

For the past several years much of my therapeutic work has focused on disordered eating. The depth and breadth of this experience, which includes running body image workshops, facilitating eating disorder groups, and spending hundreds of hours in individual sessions, has bolstered my understanding of eating disorders as well as my confidence that I can help.

Initially, I attempt to pinpoint what strong emotion the individual is attempting to avoid. Does it help in avoiding negative emotions? Is it something in your life that you alone have control over? Does it feel like your eating disorder has become a friend? Becoming aware of why food has become the ‘soother’ for big emotions can serve as a step towards understanding and treating an eating disorder.

I believe in developing a unique treatment plan for each client that will reduce the symptoms of the disorder, while increasing self-reliance and strength. Methods I use include:

Psycho-educational information: to connect the impact of starvation or binge-eating with feeling of irritability, a lack of interest, and concentration problems

Cognitive restructuring: to address irrational beliefs about how to eat, what to eat, how much to exercise, fears of gaining weight, and feelings of defeat.

Mood management and coping skills: to help clients become more assertive and learn how to understand and express feelings

At times I may also need to collaborate with a dietician or family physician to ensure that health is not being compromised. In order to get the most effective treatment possible, teamwork is often the best approach.

Contact Root Psychology

Other products and services from Root Psychology

A former career as a guidance counsellor and teacher at elementary schools and junior highs has given me years of practical, everyday experience with the problems and concerns of parents and adolescents.
I like to think it’s due to my sense of humor … along with my keen fashion sense and winning personality.
Although it’s said that teenagers live in their own world, in reality they’re embedded in a family unit.

Clients with low self-esteem tend to consider success as neutral events, see neutral events as failures, and experience failures as catastrophes.
Undue distress over a particular situation is often rooted in low self-esteem or self-acceptance.
Most clients I’ve worked with wouldn’t mind boosting their confidence and self-esteem.
Learn how to recognize and enjoy strengths and successes.
Little niggling worries are easily ignored.

When you become a couple each partner brings experiences from past relationships that include patterns of behavior and ways of communicating.
If you’re reading this right now you could be trying to improve your relationship, but feel some outside advice could help.
How to create shared meaning and work towards common goals.
How to understand and reduce automatic defense mechanisms.
How feelings can be validated and invalidated.

If you’re struggling with depression you know that, contrary to the advice of some, it’s not a matter of simply snapping your fingers and feeling better.
The painful symptoms of depression that may be hindering your life can be alleviated.

In my experience, these early conversations allow a potential client a chance to determine if I’m someone they can connect with and trust, while giving me an opportunity to see if my therapeutic approach is right for the client.
As a first step before any formal sessions, I like to meet at a coffee shop or get acquainted on the phone to get a feel for whether we’ll make a good match.

Changing from this mindset begins with recognizing how the cycle of anxiety is maintained and gaining an awareness of how the cycle can be stopped.
Everyone can feel anxious from time to time, but sometimes anxiety can be so overwhelming that it begins to dominate your day-to-day life.
By working towards understanding the situations that trigger these feelings I can help you gain relief from anxiety.